# Chapter 36
Though his voice was full of mischief, his sparkling eyes made it seem anything but lascivious. Dohyuk clicked his tongue softly and crossed his arms.
“Later. Let’s do it in the guiding room.”
“Oh, right. Don’t receive guiding from other Guides anymore. Absolutely not.”
Even as Junseo spoke firmly, he didn’t think Dohyuk would take his words seriously. Dohyuk often behaved like a cleric distancing himself from temptation. Like someone suffering from neurosis, he didn’t smoke or drink, and despite being an Esper, he showed maximum restraint when it came to guiding. He seemed to have a strange fear of losing control and always feared the worst. He showed none of the possessiveness or domineering attitude typical of Espers. Sometimes he would resist his seething instincts like a wild animal forcibly tamed with all its teeth and claws removed.
That’s why Junseo couldn’t help but feel intensely satisfied when Dohyuk opened his mouth.
“…You shouldn’t let any other Esper touch you either.”
# Chapter 36
The system where Espers and Guides form partnerships originated, to put it simply, from the possessiveness of Espers. The possessiveness that manifested like a survival instinct was too severe to be dismissed as childish stubbornness like a child refusing to share candy. In the past, when Guides had fewer rights, Espers who didn’t want to share their Guides with others would arbitrarily confine or kidnap them, causing unethical incidents so frequent that they remain in news articles to this day.
Cases where multiple Espers fought over one Guide occurred often enough, and as conflicts between beings with superhuman powers became more frequent, safety concerns grew serious. Because of these various problems, the partnership system was established, recognizing the exclusive status between Espers and Guides.
However, there had always been fewer Guides than Espers, and the number of Guides decreased even further at higher ranks, so the partnership system wasn’t as rigid as marriage. Unlike lower-ranked Guides, higher-ranked Guides, who were rare in number, weren’t criticized for guiding other Espers as long as their partner Esper wasn’t in an emergency state. A partnership merely guaranteed priority for guiding to the respective Esper.
That’s why Dohyuk belatedly realized he had been thinking too casually about it.
“You’re coming along?”
“Of course. My partner is going.”
Dohyuk frowned while checking the personnel list for the dungeon mission. As deep wrinkles formed between his brows, Junseo reached out and firmly pressed his forehead. Unlike Dohyuk, he didn’t seem tense at all.
“Junseo. Didn’t you say you’ve never been to a dungeon before?”
“Back then, I didn’t have a partner who needed me, but now I do, so I should go.”
“It’s dangerous. What was headquarters thinking when they approved this?”
“It’s a dungeon that’s already been cleared once, and we’re just a search team looking for the core. Plus, the dungeon is only A-class, so approval came easily. Since I’ve been an S-class with no notable utility until now, headquarters is probably much happier seeing me finally finding a partner and starting to work.”
“…What do you mean, no utility? Why would you say that?”
Junseo’s black eyes rippled in Dohyuk’s direction. He smiled brightly. That gentle smile hopelessly colored even his round eyes.
“Of course not anymore. You appeared, after all.”
“……”
“Come to think of it, this is the first time we’re going somewhere far together. Jecheon, right?”
Seeing Junseo half-excited like a child looking forward to an outing, Dohyuk habitually placed a french fry in his mouth. He even faithfully followed the request to dip it in just a little ketchup. Had Sangjun or Seungmin seen this, they would have given them a cold look, but fortunately or unfortunately, the fast food table was shielded by a partition, and everyone around them was busy with their own food.
“We’re not going on a picnic.”
“But we’re still going together.”
“To be honest, I really think a dungeon mission is too much for you right now.”
Junseo’s expression, which had been suffused with a smile, cooled. Watching this scene unfold before his eyes, Dohyuk belatedly realized his mistake. I must have spoken thoughtlessly. Junseo was also an S-class ability user, yet he had treated him like an ignorant child. Before Dohyuk could fumble for words of apology, Junseo spoke first.
“Don’t tell me you were planning to leave your one and only small, cute partner behind?”
So that’s why he was upset. Dohyuk clicked his tongue softly. Junseo quickly put on a sulky expression and began pressing down on Dohyuk’s hand, squeeze, squeeze.
They say cats knead when they’re happy, but Junseo would often press on Dohyuk’s hand or arm when he was upset. Despite the insignificant weight, Dohyuk’s restlessness at the sight probably wasn’t normal either.
Dohyuk was concerned whenever emotions other than a smile flickered across that face. He gently grasped one of Junseo’s fingers that was running rampant on his hand, as if to soothe it.
“I was just worried because dungeon missions are tough. And Junseo. Honestly, you’re not that small.”
To be honest, the last remark was a small revenge against Junseo, who was making a sullen face despite not knowing his concerned heart. Now more familiar with Junseo’s behavioral patterns, Dohyuk expected responses like “Do you dislike that I’m big?” but reality was once again different from imagination.
“So you think I’m cute, huh?”
“……”
“Why are you embarrassed, hyung?”
If fringe tree flowers bloomed, they would make that kind of sound.
Dohyuk sighed at the joyful, bright laughter that was mixed with delight.
***
S-class Esper Ji Sangjun
S-class Guide Lee Hayeon
S-class Guide Yu Junseo
A-class Esper Choi Dohyuk
A-class Esper Seo Jaesik
A-class Esper Hansol
A-class Guide Kwon Jihun
It was a high-caliber group, almost intimidating for what was just a search team for an A-class dungeon.
Since this mission was a short-term task to quickly search for the core, it seemed they had assembled an elite team. Due to the recent frequent anomalies occurring in dungeons, like the A-class monster that appeared in the B-class dungeon last time, increasing the rank of team members was the solution the headquarters had come up with.
After loading Junseo’s bag in the trunk, Dohyuk turned to look at him with concern. Their eyes met as Junseo had been staring at Dohyuk all along. Not understanding Dohyuk’s feelings, Junseo’s eyes sparkled like a Maltese dog with a leash in its mouth, urging to go for a walk.
Despite it being his first dungeon mission, he didn’t seem very nervous even today.
Ironically, Dohyuk, who was used to dungeon missions, was more tense because he was bringing Junseo along.
“Do I just get in the car now?”
Dohyuk nodded and walked toward the vehicle he needed to board, like a mother duck. Junseo quietly followed behind Dohyuk.
“Esper Choi Dohyuk. It’s been a while. Ah, and Guide Yu Junseo too.”
Sangjun, who seemed to have already boarded the headquarters personnel transport vehicle and was checking the internal personnel, half-leaned out of the front door to greet Dohyuk and Junseo.
Though there were only seven people in the search team, the vehicle was a 20-passenger bus since they had to accommodate additional personnel who would be stationed outside the dungeon. Dohyuk thought it was just the right size, neither too big nor too small.
“Yes, Esper Ji Sangjun-nim. Please take care of us.”
“I’ll also take care of you. Is Yu Junseo ignoring me?”
After responding kindly to Dohyuk, Sangjun immediately gritted his teeth at Junseo. Junseo continued to ignore Sangjun’s words and tightly grabbed Dohyuk’s arm from behind. It was a delicate gesture as if he was so, so scared.
Why would such a kind-looking S-class Esper be harassing Junseo?
Dohyuk boarded the vehicle with Junseo, thinking that if Sangjun knew the truth, he would be beating the drum of injustice at the royal court. Jihun, who had already taken a seat at the front, smiled when he saw Dohyuk board, but his expression hardened as soon as he saw Junseo following behind. Dohyuk sighed, thinking the stiff expression was because of him.
His face stung. He felt like the gazes of everyone already seated were piercing him. This happened occasionally since he became Junseo’s partner. Though headquarters seemed to have intervened, as there was no special media coverage about an S-class Guide getting a partner, they couldn’t stop rumors from spreading, and people at headquarters always had curious faces when they met.
Whether Junseo or Dohyuk was alone, they were already oppressed by rampant rumors, but putting the two together meant there was never a quiet day. Not knowing how to handle this, or if it even could be handled, Dohyuk just dropped a few words as he passed by Jihun.
“Let’s talk separately later. We’ll have plenty of time.”
Because Junseo was sticking so close behind him and hurrying his steps, Dohyuk quickly headed toward the inner seat without even hearing Jihun’s response.
The assembly time was 2:30, so assuming they’d finish preparations and depart at 3:00, they’d reach Jecheon, where the dungeon was located, around 6:00 at the earliest.
“Is it okay to enter a dungeon this late?”
Junseo, who had promptly taken the seat next to Dohyuk even though there was no need, asked.
The Guides, who always wore gown-type uniforms at headquarters, wore combat uniforms like Espers when dispatched to dungeons. They were in a dark navy color to distinguish them from Espers, and considering that Guides had less defensive ability compared to Espers, the combat uniforms focused much more on protecting the wearer.
It was common to wear additional armor supplied to Guides over these combat uniforms right before entering a dungeon. Armor made from processed dungeon by-products was excellent at protecting the vital points of Guides.
Junseo, like any other Guide, was wearing the issued combat uniform. Dohyuk found his attention unwittingly captured.
It was pretty when he usually walked with a long gown flowing gently, but seeing him in combat uniform revealing his natural lines was more than Dohyuk had thought.
“Hyung?”
…Dohyuk swallowed and gave a small, fake cough.
